Tile manufacture



Apr. 10, 1923; v I I 1,451,229

' E. L. QOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE l 1,451,229 E. L. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE Filed June 22, 1921 12 sheets-sheet 2 lulli lllwv Apr. 10, 1923.

' I 1,451,229 1 E. L. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE v v Filed June 22, 1921 1 2 sheets-sheefi 5",

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Apr. 10, 1923.

, I I 1,451,229 E. L. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE Filed-Tune 22, 1921, i2 sheets-sheet 6 v Apr. 10, 1923f.

E. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE Filed June 22, 1921 12 s heecs-shet a Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,229

Y E. L. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE Filed June 22, 1921 12 sheets-sheet 9 Apr. 10, 1923. Y 1,451,229

E. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE Filed June 22, 1921 12 sheets-sheet 10 Apr. 10, 1 923.

- 1,451,229 E. L. LOUDENSLAGER v TILE MANUFACTURE Filed June 22, 1921 12 sheets-sheet 11 Apr. 10, 1923. r 1,451,229 E. L. LOUDENSLAGER TILE MANUFACTURE Filed June 22, 1921 12 sheetssheet 12 (2 (hid 1 M INVE TEIR its end of the machine;

Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

warren starts EDGAR LEROY LoUnnnsL GEn, on roLEDO. OHIO.

TILE MANUFACTURE.

Application filed June 22, 1921. Serial No. 479,527.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Enema LEROY LoUonN- SLAGER, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tile Manufacture; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and.

figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

While in many structures tile flooring would be highly desirable, it happens in most cases that its cost is prohibitive. The high cost of such floo-ring'is due largely to the expense of producing tiles by the ocramic art and to the time, labor and skill requisite in the assembling and laying of the individual tiles in proper formal and ornamental relation. The present invention is designed to furnish a method and a machine or apparatus by means of which the objections and difliculties here indicated are, to a great extent, overcome. More particu larly, my invention is intended to furnish means by which a strong durable satisfac tory inexpensive substitute for the usual burned tile is rapidly produced, and by which the cost of laying the tiles is reduced to a minimum. These results are attained by flexibly connecting, in suitable sections or groups, many of the tiles, all arranged in properorder, so that many tiles maybe simultaneously placed, and whereby considerable areas may be rapidly covered, and without the exercise of much skill.

The broad inventive idea here outlined may find expression in a variety of forms. One illustrative embodiment of an apparatus for producing the flexibly connected groups of tiles above referred to, which I find efficient in practice, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a plan-view of a portion of my apparatus; Fig. 2, a side-elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a side-elevation of the rear end of that portion of the apparatus indicated in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4i, an end elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a top plan-view of part of an endless chain-belt hereinafter re-- ferred to; Fig. 6, a side-elevation of the samezfFig. 7, a front elevation of the front ig. 8, a central ver tical sectional elevation of the. chain-belt and its guides and sprocket-wheel; Fig. 9, a top-plan view of the mold-plate herein after referred to; Fig. 10, a cross-section of thesame taken on line a-a, Fig. 9; Fig. 11,

a cross-section of the same taken on line bb, 9; Fig; 12, a cross-section of the same taken on linen-0, Fig. 9; Fig. 13, an elevation, seen from the rear end of the machine, of the device for feeding to the mold-plate the removable knock-out plates which form bottoms for the matrices of the mold-plate, being partly in section taken on line cZ-cZ, Figle; Fig. 14, a side-elevation of the same; Fig. 14, a sectiona lelevation taken on line aa, Fig. '14; Fig. 14*, a sectional elevation taken on line .r:v,. Fig.

14; Fig. 15, a plan-view of a. portion of the same viewed from line; co -w, Fig. 16; Fig. 16, a section taken on line b b, Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 a section taken on line 0-0, Fig,.

15 Fig. 18, a side view of a detail of the rocker-arm and push-rod for feedin "the knock-out plates hereinafter referre to; Fig. 19., a front view of the same; Fig. 20,

a detail of the same, showing the accompanying spring; Fig. 21, an endview of the same; Fig. 22, a side-elevation of the hopper for mud and the feedingmechanism ac-, companying the same 5 Fig. 28, a central vertical sectional elevation of thesame taken on line f;, Fig. 24"; Fig. 24:, an elevation, seen from the rear of the machine, of one-halfof the same; Fig.25, a. front-elevaw 'tion of the other half of the same Fig. 26,

a plan-view of the finger-plate for feeding mud. to the matrices of the 'mold-plates (Figs. 9 to 12,); Fig. 27, an eleyation of the mechanism designed to supply a netting or fabric to the form-plate illustrated in,

Fig.9, the left half of this view being seen from the right on line a-a, Fig. 28, the;

right half being seen from the right on line 6+1), Fig. 28; Fig. 28, a side-elevation of the same seen from the left in Fig. 27 Fig. 29, a top plan-view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the sliding bearings for the Shear blade hereinafter referred to; Fig. 30, a side-elevation of a roller adapted and arranged for smoothing and trowelling the mud in the mold plates; Fig. 31, a frontelevation of the same; Fig. 32, a perspective view of the mechanism which receivesfrom the endless chain-belt, indicated .in' Figs. 1 and 2, the successive mold-plates and which inverts and delivers the same to the appara them for use.

tus for extracting the molded tiles from their matrices; Fig. 33, an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the spring supports; hereinafter referredto, for holding the inverted mold-plate'during the operation of the knock-out plugs hereinafter referred to; Fig. 34;, a perspective View of the device for extracting the freshly molded tiles from their matrices; Fig. 35, a side-elevation of ratchet-wheel hereinafter referred to; Fig. 36 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a pa-vement'or tile unit or group as pro 'duced thereunder; and Fig. 37 is a partial section therethrough.

Corresponding reference-characters rep resent like parts throughout the drawings.

\Vhile the word tile, as generally used, means an article of burned clay, or sometimes, metal, in this specification the Word means a tileshaped article or plaquette composed of a cementitious substance, such 'as a suitable mixture of Portland cement and a fine crystalline granular substance, such, for instance, as ground marble, which has been wetted to a partially liquefied state and then cast in suitable molds. In the course of their manufacture my tiles are allowed to remain in their molds or matrices until sufficiently hardened to retain their shape but not sufliciently to adhere to the mold The partly hardened casts are next removed from their matrices and are allowed to harden and are subjected to such further treatment as may be deemed needful to fit The cementitious substance here referred to, while in its wet state, will, for the sake of brevity and clearness, be termed mud In the drawings, 1 is a form or moldplate in which a number of tiles or plaquettes may be simultaneously cast. (See Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive.) This plate consists of a metal casting 2, in the present instance, for illustration, rectangular in outline, and having therethrough series of openings 3, shown in the drawings, for convenience of illustration, as oblong rectangles, symmetrically arranged in straight rows, the ends of the openings in alternate rows falling opposite the middle of the openings of the adjoining rows. It will be'understood, of course, that these shapes may vary as occasion may require. The tops of the dividing walls which separate the openings 3 are accurately,

kerfed, as at 4C, and into these kerfs are tightly fitted thin longitudinal spacingstrlps and cross-pieces 5 6. On each side of ea'ch of the pieces 56 there is formed by the tops of the walls of the chambers 3 narrow shoulders or ledges 7. These ledges. form supports for the margins of thinplates 8 which fit loosely in the spaces bounded by the pleces 56. The plates 8 may be of glass or polished steel. or other suitable material, and if desired the upper faces 0 matrices the sides of which are formed by P the thin strips 5 6. The upper exposed surface of the plates 8 give corresponding surfaces to the faces of the finished tiles or plaquettes. The pieces 5-6 are preferably notched, at 9, for the purpose presently to be explained.

Assuming that the cells or matrices 10, illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, are filled with mud and that the upper part of the mud has embedded therein stout crossed cords which rest in the notches 9, it will be seen that when the mud has become sufficiently set to retain its shape, the form may be inverted and the contents of the chambers-10 may be forced out by means of suitable plungers moving against the plates 8 through the openings 3. The knock-out plates 8 will now be uppermost and will be readily removable, leaving a surface on the tile cor responding to the surface, smooth or otherwise, of the knockout plate. The halfhardened plaquettes or tiles having been discharged upon a flat plate or tray are removed to suitable racks where they are given such treatment as may be required and where they are allowed to harden. be seen that the cords above referred to as resting in the notches 9, are embedded in the tiles and hold groups of tiles,150 in number in the present illustrative form, flexibly connected in the same relation as when in the mold-plate.

In the production of the flexibly connected series or groups of tiles by my method or process, certain steps may be performed manually, but for the sake of economy of time and labor the several steps necessary to effect the results above indicated, should, in the main, be performed automatically by instrumentalities, substantially such are now to be described.

An elongated table or bench 11, carries an endless belt or apron 12, running over and under the table upon pulleys 13, journaled at opposite ends of the table. For details of the table, belt and pulleys, see Figs. 5, 6-, 7 and 8. The endless belt is actuated, preferably, by an electric motor 1 1, belted and geared to the rear pulleys 13, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4E. The endless belt 12, is provided at intervals with cross-pieces 12 spaced apart such distance as to conveniently support the moldplates 1. A mold-plate being placed upon the moving apron at the front end of the machine, it becomes necessary to furnish the matrices 10 with knock-out plates 8 to form complete molds for the reception of the mud. To this end there is provided for the plates 8 a receptacle 15, secured across the top of.

It will the belt 12. The bottom of the receptacle is inclined downwardly in the direction of the travel of the belt and is divided by thin narrow longitudinal partitions 16' and crosspartitions 17 into box-like chambers 18, into which the plates 8 may loosely fit flatwise. Beneath the lower edges of the cross partitions 17 are slots 19, through which single plates 8 may slip edgewise. The bottom of the receptacle 15 forms, with the partitions 16, rows of ways or chutes 20, corresponding in number and width to the rows 'of matrices 10 in the mold-plate 1. The discharge ends 21 of the chutes are located directly above the matrices 10 as they are carried along by the belt 12 and are arranged with one half of the series of discharge points in advance of the other half, so that they correspond with the staggered relation of the matrices.

-' fit the .rea-r and beneath the elevated part of the. receptacle 15 is a shaft 22, journaled on the opposite sides of the frame 11, and having adjustably secured thereto a series of upright arms23, corresponding in numher to the several receptacles 18. Each of these arms carries at its upper encla swiveled piece 24, through which passes a pushrod 25, arranged to reciprocate in the bottom of the receptacle 18 and in alinement with the slot 19. At each forward movement, each push-rod will engage the rear edge of a plate 8 in its box-like receptacle 18,and will project the plate through the slot'19 into its appropriate matrix 10 in the ni-old-plat'e 1 as it moves from beneath the receptacle 15. This reciprocatory movement of thepushfingers is effected through the rocking of the shaft 22, which has secured to it, at one end, an arm 26, the outer end of which is pivoted to one end of a connecting rod. 27, having a crank-connection,-as at 28, with a wormwheel 29. This worm-wheel is journaled at the side of the frame 11, and isin engagement with a worm 30, on shaft 31, journaled, as at 32, lengthwise of the frame 11. 33 is a frictionclutchmember fastened upon the shaft 31. 34is a companion clutch member fastened upon shaft 35, which extends along the sideof the frame 11 and which'is driven in harmony with the movement of the belt 12 by suitable associated gears, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Brake-bands 36 are at their meeting ends pivotally connected together and to the member 34, as at 37. At their opposite ends these bands are connected by toggles 38, with opposite margins of a disc 39, fixed on one end of a short shaftf40, extending through and mounted in the member 34. The opposite end of the shaft- 40 carries an arm 41, the free end of which rides upon a conical sleeve 42, revoluble with and slidable upon the shaft 35. The forward movement of the cone 42 swingsthe arm 41 and the toggles 38 so that the brake-bands 36 are caused to clasp tightly the clutch-member 33, and so that the shafts 31 and 35 now revolve together. It will be seen that when the clutch-members are engaged,fthe pushfingers will be caused to reciprocate by means of the rocking of the arms 23 and 26 and their connection 27,'with the gears 29 and 30. Springs 25 coiledabout the pushrods, prevent breakage of machinery in case of failure of a plate 8 to feed properly. In

order that the feed of the plates 8 to the" mold-plate 1, as here described, shall begin and terminate with the passing of the moldplate, and that the clutch for the shafts31 and may be thrown into. and out of gear at the proper momentyl provide my mold-plate with a side-rail 43, beveled as at 44 at its front and rear ends; The conical sleeve 42 (Fig. 14) has a groove 45which loosely receives the lower end of a bifurcated lever 46,

fulcrumed as at 47, on the frame of the machine. 48 is a short horizontal shaft having at its outer end a depending arm 49 engaged with a crotclr50 in the top of the lever 46. At the other end of the shaft 48 is an arm 51, lying in the'path of the rail 43 on the moldplate'l. When the beveled part44 of the railcom'es in contact with the arm 51, the armslides up on top of the rail and there rides until it slides off the rail 'with the pass ing of the mold-plate. The 'upwajrd ofthe arm 51 givesa part turn to the shaft 48, causing the'arm 49 to swing the lever .46 and to shift the conical sleeve into working position. As the arm 51 slides off-the'rail 43 the clutch is disengaged and the'operation of the feed-fingers ceases until again set in motion by thepassing of the succeeding mold-plate.

The several matrices of the mold-plate having been supplied with their knock-out plates 8, it moves steadily forward until it comes into operative relation to the devices illustrated'in Figs. 22 to 26, inclusive, showing the mechanism by which mud supplied I to the'cells 0r matrices of the mold-plate 1.

52 is a box or hopper secured directly above and across the path of the mold-plates,

and having an open'topadapted for the con venient charging of the hop-per with mud.

The narrow elongated outlet 53, through parts44 of the rails 43, thus opening the gate 54 and. permitting the semi-liquid contents of the container 52 to flow into the matricesofthe moldpl-aite. As the moldplate recedes, the reverse action of the rollers', riding down off of the rails 43',auto rnat1- The rods 55 cally closes the gate. To insure the uniform flow of the more or less liquid mud and to prevent tl e clogging of the outlet 1 provide a plate 59,-illustrated in Fig. 26, having fingers 60 at its forward edge, which plate extends across the interior of the receptacle 52., and which, through narrow opening 61 reciprocates upon the inclined bottom 62, into and out of the contracted mouth 53. This movement of the plate 59 is effected by means of arms 68, togglcd at their upper ends, as at 64, to the upper rear edge of the plate 59, and their lower ends secured, as at 65, to ashaft 66 which is journaled on the sides of the frame 11 The shaft 66 has secured to one of its ends a downwardly projecting arm 6?, the lower end of which rides upon a 38 fixed upon the shaft 35. A spring 69, holds the arm in engagement with the cam. The rotation of the cam swings the arm 6%, rocks the shaft 66, and,through the arms 63 and the con nections 6-i,-causes the reciprocation of the plate 59. This motion of the plate keeps the bottom part of the. contents of the container constantly stirred and, when the gate is open, insures a steady flow of the mud during the passing of the mold-plate and until the hopper is empty.

The next step in pursuing my method and in the operation of my apparatus is to supply to the mud-laden matrices a fabric which shall be permanently embedded in the tiles when completed. This fabric may consist of a cloth loosely woven from yarns of any textile strong enougi to hold the finished tiles together, when being laid, in the same relation and series or groups as when moulded in their associated matrices. Instead of a cloth, a stout netting be employed. In the present instance, for illustration, the netting is so coarse that but three lengths of stout cord or flexible wire are embedded in each tile,twc crosswise and one lengthwise of the tile,the cords being knotted together at their intersections. These cords whenin place rest in the notches 9, illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. The net or fabric referred to, made in considerable lengths, is wound upon a reel or spool 70, loosely journaled upon standards 71, secured to opposite side-members of the frame 11. A pair of rolls 72 (shown in half-length in Fig. 27,) are journaled on standards secured to the frame 11, one above the other, across the frame, near tothe reel 70, and are arranged to draw from the reel, at intervals, the fabric indicated by the dotted line 74. A pulley 75, on the shaft of the upper roll 72, is belted to and is driven by a pulley 76, on the shaft of a worm-wheel 77, engaged and driven by a worm 78, on shaft 85. (See Figs. 27 and 28.) A table 79, consisting of a smooth sheet of metal, extends forwardly from close to the rolls and in horizontal. alinement with the opening between the rolls 72-73, and is arranged to receive from the rolls the netting or fabric 74 as it is pulled from the reel 70. 80 is a knife extending across the frame of the machine and having a slanting shear edge. The knife is at each end secured to a block or frame 81, which slides vertically in a guide in a standard or pillar 82, mounted on a side member of the frame 11. The

blade 80 is disposed in such relation to the table or plate 79 that the edge of the plate serves as a stationary member of a pair of sheanblades. The blocks or frames 81 have, respectively, an inwardly projecting arm 83, which carries on its under side'a roller 84, arranged to mount and ride upon the rail 43 of the mold-plate as it travels beneath the table 7 9. 85 indicates a rod or bar pivoted at one end, as at 86, to the sliding bloclr or frame 81 and pivoted at its other end, asat 87, to the standard 71. .There are two of the rods or bars 85, located at opposite sides of the frame 11 and immediately beneath the projecting ends of the shaft 78 of the lower roll 73. Before starting the machines length of the fabric or netting is pulled be-- tween the rolls and stretched along the length of the table 7 9. When the rollers 84 mount the rails 43 of the moving mold-plate the knife 80 is lifted by the upward movement of the blocks 81. At the same moment,

by the same movement, the pivoted ends 86 of the rods85 are also lifted, thus engaging and lifting the ends of the shaft '7 3, so that the fabric. 74 is now pressed between the upper revolving roll 72 and. the lower roll.

The fabric is thus pulled from its reel and fed along the table over and upon the mudladen mold-plate, the driving 'mechanisms for the plate and the fabricbeing timed to move in unison. As the mold-plate moves from the beneath the table 79, the rollers 84: descend from the rails 4C3, lowering the blocks 81 and, by the downward swing of the rods 85, permitting the roll 73 to 'fall away from the upper roll thus stopping the feed of the fabric. The downward movelflil ment of the blocks 81 also lowers the knife i 80 which, in conjunction with the edge of the plate or table 7 9, shears the netting or fabric at the rear of the departing moldplate, leaving the fabric in position for a repetition of the operation here described.

The fabric or netting which is to hold the molded articles in proper relatiombeing now applied upon the top of the more or less liquid mud, it is necessary that the retaining strands be partly or wholly embedded in the material. The extent or depth of the burial of the several strands will depend somewhat upon the kind of surface to be given to the finished tile. If the exposed surface of the tile is to show bits of colored marbles or is to include other substances than mere sand and Portland percent, it

ime:

- the mold-plate With the more expensive 'surfacing material, then to apply the netting or fabric, and to then complete the fill ng of the matrices W th thechea'per material.

Should this method be followed, the nettingor fabric Will, of, course, be more deeply embedded than if it Were applied to filled matrices and then by pressure or trovveling sunken intb the mud. In Figs. 1 and 2 are indicated a means niarke'd 52 for supplying the matrices with an additional layer of mud after the fabric or netting has been applied. In case two kinds 0t mud are, to be employed then the second hopper, feeding devices and gears Will be thehsame as hereinbetore described. (See parts indicated by the reference characters 52 to 69', inclusive) (7 y 88 is a roll journaled in bearings 89, mounted on the side-members of the'frame 11, and of the same length as the Width of the mold-plate. The roll is disposed directly above and across the track of the moldplates and so close to the plates that the bottom of the roll barely touches the tops of the spacing-strips 6. The'roll is designed to contact lightly with the surface of the mud in the matrices of the mold-plates. and to have a troweling effect upon such surfaces To this end, thesurface ot the roll is given a greater speedthan the travel of the mold-plates, the rotation of the roll bein in the direction of such travel. The rofi is revolvedthrough aband-Wheel 90, on the shaft of the roll, belted to a pulley 91, on the shaft of which is" another pulley 92 belted in turn to a pulley 93'fi1ied on the shaft 13*, of the sprocltets13 Which drive the endless belts for the mold-plates. (See Figs. 1, 7, and 28.) It Will be seen that it the fabric or netting 7 1 rests on top of the rnud,not havingvbeen buried by a second application from the hopper 52 ,this trowel'ing by the roller 88 will so mingle the strands of the netting or fabric with the mud that such strands Will bepartly or Wholly incorporated in the body of the tile. 1 I i The contents of the matrices 10 having' top of an elongated bench or frame 96 which may he a continuation 02'? the bench or trame 11. The table 94 has at each side an inwardly iuhiii;

its lov'v'fe'r end te the, oiif the as at; 98',1the1top of the hook biag beveled in ardly. The arame e -1d bathe hear, is I providedjvith a{ sip. g+ng1: trewn wh holds the hookpressed invvjardly -to s 1g 1 overhang the table. The mold-plate having,

been fed onto the table and against the stop or. shoulder 94;"; the op'erator cover's shjet metal which conforms the filled portion of the hooks 9'? yield to'the pressure of th ed'g es'" of tray upOnthe beveled tops" of hooks and immediately snap" into e'ligg'aggge ment with the op'po'si'te edges otfthe tray plate and against the plastic tiles] or plaquettesj New a v abieei may vvith itt" attached molc'l-plate, he s vvung over up'o'ri its pivot into inverted pfo'sitioh, so that thetray will how be underneath plate- This movement of th'e' niold-[p'la te places itsends upon the cro'ssba s 99,,the I ends of which are sup' n'orted upon endless chains 100', which run upon sprockets 101 These chains cbnne mg cross'-j pieces move step by-stepfrom 1' ",1 i "1 v 1!! over the top of the frame-or table 96 and 94'is tu'rned over into invertedjph'siiti beveled ends the hooks 97 s n e return beneath thefran 'e, When the table 94,: a 9

97 causing the hooks to swing outwardly and to release the ni oldplate from table so that the table is now free to swing back v, sides the cross-bars 991 nte1'me'd ate ross bars 10.2,of less thicki'fessthttn th e lba rs 99', The bars are bored and thread'etl suitable intervals 'for the reception? of sleeves or socliet' pieces 103, (See; ,Fig,

Protruding from each of these shhliet- 1 10 pieces, is a short pin 104, which isi' lield normally projected by a co' "d of the spring is adjusted as may be desiredj.

When the table with its load is inverted, thetray above referred to nowre'sts upon;

a. l ,L Pfl 1.0 nterposed betweenl the pin and a screwf p the projecting pins 104-", While the" ends of, I

the mold-plate rest upon the cross-ba jrsfti The tenementthe's rings105 is such that the tray is yieldingly, held up against the surfaces of the pla'quettes.

A. stout (see B stridest'he chain bel't 1.00 ahd hasiouifri'ald' across its top a shaft 108 which ciirriesla g its,

loo-segear-u heel 109. This ear is ngaged carries a sprocket 111 uThichis connectedibv chain 112, with a sprocket 113;.on thesh aift the constant rotation which gives corresponding rotation to the gear 109. A;

clutch 114, controlled'by a cord or similar device 115, within convenient reachof the operator, throws the gear into operative engagement with its shaft 108. The clutch is of the familiar sort which is automatically disengaged with each rotation of its shaft and needs not be here more specifically described.

116 is a horizontal plate, which I shall term a knock-out, and which is vertically movable between the corner posts of the frame and which serve as guides for the knock out. The bottom side of the knock out, which is preferably of cast metal, has downwardly projecting pins 117, corresponding in number and arrangement with the openings 3 in the mold-plate. The knock out is suspended by two pitmans 118, p1voted at their lower ends, as at. 119, to opposite sides of. the knock out, and pivoted attheir upper ends, as at 120, to cranks 121 on the ends ofthe shaft 108. A rack-bar 121*, which moves in harmony with the knock out is secured to the knock out by means of a shackle 122 and a clamping screw 121*, and is guided: vertically upon one of the corner posts of the frame 107. The teeth of the rack-bar are in engagement with a pinion 123 on the shaft of which is a sprocket 124, which carries and drives an endless chain 125. This chain runs upon another sprocket, 126, (see Fig. 32,) fast upon the pivot-shaft 95 of the table 94.

1.27 is a rack bar which slides vertically in guides,not shown,-on one of the corner posts of the frame 107. This rack-bar is connected with the knock out by means of a shackle 127 which embraces the rack-bar between the stops 127. While these stops cause the rack-bar to reciprocate vertically with the knock out, they permit a limited movement of the knock out without moving the rack-bar. 128 is a ratchet-wheel fixed on shaft 129. Loose on the same shaft and in engagei'ueut with the rack-bar 127 is a gear 130, having pawls 131 engaged with the teeth of the wheel 128 in such manner that the gear 130 can drive the ratchetwheel and its shaft only when the rack 127 is moving upwardly. On the shaft 129 is a sprocket wheel 132, connected by chain 133 with a sprocket 134 fixed on the shaft of the sprockets 101.

Assume that a mold-plate with its charge of flexibly connected plastic tiles has been fed to and rests upon the table 94; also that an inverted mold-plate 1 rests uponl the cross-bars 99 of the conveyor 100, immediately beneath the knock out 116; that another mold-plate in like manner rests upon the conveyor end-to-end with the one under the knock-out, and that there is a space left on the conveyor for the reception of the mold-plate lying on the table. Now, theoperator throws the clutch 114 into engageassaaes ment with the revolving gear 109, causing the cranks 121 to describe a complete revolution which lowers the knockout to its 'lowv est position and returns it to its upper position where the clutch is automatically disengaged. In the descent of the knock out, the downwardly projecting pins 117 enter the upturned holes 3 in the metal casting 2, and strike the several plates 8 and push them and the plastic tiles out of the matrices 10, the several pins 104, upon which the receiving tray rests, yielding to this pressure of the knock out. The mold-plate is thus freed from its tiles which now rest upon the tray beneath the mold-plate. In the descent of the knock out, the rack 121 through the gears 123, 124, 126 and chain 125, causes the table 94 to swing on its pivot and to deposit its lead on the conveyor 100.

the filled tray to be disposed of. It will i be seen that by reason of the lost motion of the shackle 127 between the two stops 127*, the conveyor does not begin to i move until the knock out has been lifted clear of the mold-plate.

The empty molds are cleaned and sent back to the head of the machine; The plates 8 are carefully removed from the tiles, leaving an unbroken surface, and the tray carrying the tiles is removed to a suitable curing chamber. The product from'this apparatus is a flexibly connected pavement unit having a continuous surface. Tlhe-fabric 74 has warp 135 intersecting; woof 136 in the tile or block 137. Accordingly, the tile is fully assembledin the grouping for installation as a continuous pavement surface and has but to be flushed with the anchoringcement for completing the installation. These tile units may be kept in storage and readily transferred with minimum danger of fracture.

Havingdescribed my invention, what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,-- i

1. The method of producing tiles of the described character, which consists in fo-rm ing of partially liquefied cement a plurality of closely adjoining symmetrically arranged tile-shaped plaquettes, then, whilesaid material is still soft, connecting such plaoucttes by embeddine therein a suitable flexible fabric, and then supporting the plaquettes, so connected, in undisturbed relation until sufficiently hardened for use.

turbed relation until suiiiciently hardened for use. 3. The method of casting blocks comprising charging a plurality of adjacent molds with plastic material, and extending strands in intersecting directions to be anchored with said material in said molds, and t-rowelinn" the material to anchor the strands therein.

4. The method of casting blocks comprising grouping semi-plastic casts in staggeredrelation in a form, anchoring a mesh fabric therewith, turning over a group of said blocks as a unit, and separating the casts from the form.

5. The method of producing tiles of the described character, which consists in clr ing into series or groups of closely fM]O-ln ing matrices suiiicient partially liquefied cement to partly fill the matrices, then, while the cement is still soft, flexibly connecting: the contents of such matrices, then adding enough more partially liquefied cement to completely fill the matrices, then, when the cement is suiiiciently hardened, simultaneously expelling from the matrices the mate rial so molded onto, a suitable trayyand then retaining upon. said tray the tiles or plaquet-tes so formed in undisturbed relation until hard enough to be used.

6. In an apparatus of the described character, a mold-plate having therethrough series of symmetrically arranged openings in communication with corresponding series of matrices conforming to the tiles or plaquettes to be formed, and in each of said matrices a knock-out plate carried by the mold-plate. which knock-out plate forms the bottom of the'matrix and which is adapted by movement into the matrix to expel therefrom a tile cast therein.

7. In an apparatus of the described character, a mold-plate having series of closely adjoining matrices arranged in rows, the matrices of alternate rows being in stag:- gered relation to the matrices of the intervening rows and provided with knock-out plates, the bottoms of said matrices having); shoulders or stops for the support of knocl out plates, the mold-plate having therethrough openings which coincide with-the matrices and through which such knocloout plates may be actuated.

8. In an apparatus of the described character, a mold-plate having therethrough so walls which separate said openings beint kerfed, thin metal strips having their lower edges held in such kerfs and forming the sides and ends of said matrices, the tops of said separatino walls at thesi'desof thethin metal strips forming shoulders adapted for the-support of knock-outplates which form bottoms for the matrices. a

9. In an apparatus of the described character, a mold-plate having a series of 1113.11? rices, detachable knock-out plates forming bottoms for the matrices, and carried by the mold-plate, a conveyorsupport for the moldplate, and automatic devices disposed directly above the path of the mold-plate and operable in harmony with the movement erthe conveyor for containing and supplying; to each of said matrices one of suchknockout plates. I

10. In an apparatus ofthe described character, a mold-plate having series of matrices,

knock-out plates which form bottoms for the matrices and carried by themold late, a conveyor support forthe mold-plate, and automatic devices disposed directly above the path of the mold-plate and operable in 11. In an apparatus of the described charactor, a mol d-plate having a series of that rices, detachable knock-out plates which form bottoms for said matrices, and carried by the mold-plate, a conveyor support for the mold-plate, automatic devices disposed directly above the path of the mold-plate for containing and supplying to each of said matrices one of such knockout plates to be supported by the mold-plate, automatic devices disposed directly above the path of the mold-plate for supplying partially liquefied cement to thematrices, and means for actuating said two automatic sup ply devices in harmony with the movement of said conveyor support.

12. In an apparatus of the described vchar acter a mold-plate having closely adjoining matrices, meansfor charging said matrices with partially liquefied cement, means for embedding in the partially liquefied cement contained in said several matrices a suitable fabric, and means for expelling from said matrices such cement when. sufficiently hardened together with the fabric. I v

13.111 an apparatus of the described character. a mold-plate having series of closely adjoining matrices,means for feed-v till series of matrices, for each of said matrices a lrnoclvout plate carried by the moleplate which l'cuock-outplate forms the bot tom of the matrix, for charging into said matrices a partially liquefied cement, devices for iuvesti in such CGll'lQlflli a fabric capable of holding the casts so formedwhen hardenedin assembled relation, devices for detachably securing a upon the mold-plate in contact vith the cement and as a closure for the matrices, means for inverting the mold-plate, and means oper-.

ating through saidopenings in the moldplate for actuating the knock-out plates and for expelling the contents of the matrices.

15. In an apparatus of the described character, a mold-plate having matrices conforming to proposed groups of tiles and adapted for the reception of partially liquefied cement, means for investing in cement contained said matrices a fabric which flexibly connects in assembled relation the casts so formed,\vhen hardened,-and devices for simultaneously expelling such casts, so connected, from their said matrices, in undisturbed relation.

16. In an apparatus of the described character, a mold-plate having therethrough series of openings and having corresponding n'iatrices adapted for the reception of partially liquefied cen'ient, knock-out plates supported in and which form bottoms for the matrices, means for investing in cement contained in said matrices a suitable fabric, a reciprocable knock-out havli j projections corresponding in number and arrangement with the several openings n the mold-plate and adapted to expel the several knock-out plates and casts from said several matrices, and gears which move the mold-plate into and out of operative relation to the reciprocable knock-out plate in harmony With the n'iovement of such knees-out plate.

1?. An apparatus of the described character, comprising a mold-plate having therethrough series of openings and corresponding series of matrices conforming to a proposed group of tiles or plaquettes, knockout plates supported in and which form bottoms for the matrices and which may be recipes actuated through said openings, a conveyor support for said mold-plate, gears con nected with a suitable source of power for actuating said conveyor, devices disposed above the path of the mold-plate and actuated in harmony With the movement of the conveyor for supplying such matrices With said knock-out plates, devices disposed above the path of the mold-plate and operated in harmony with the movement of said conveyor for charging said matrices with partially liquefied cement, devices disposed above the path of the mold-plate and actu ated in harmony with the movement of the mold-plate for supplying to the exposed surface of the cement in the matrices a flexible fabric capable of holding the several ca ts -when hardenerL-against separation, a smoothing device for the surface of the cement in the matrices, a knock-out having projections which correspond to the openiregs in the mold plate, means for moving said projections and said openings into operative relation, and means for actuating said knock-out, whereby the projections enter said openings and expel from the matrices the flexibly connected casts and said knock-out plates.

18. A casting machine embodying a conveyor, a series of bottomless molds actuable' by the conveyor, and removable bottom plates for the molds carried by the molds for holding the material in the molds against movement relatively to the molds.

19. An apparatus for the production of pavement units comprising traveling open bottom mold series, bottoms for saidmolds of a series, means for putting the bottoms in said molds, means for feeding plastic material upon the mold bottoms in said molds, Warp and Woof material supply means to said molds, and means for effecting embedding of the Warp and Woof in the plastic material.

20. An apparatus for the production of pavement units comprising a traveling open bottom mold series, bottoms for said molds of a series, means for putting the bottoms in said molds, means for feeding plastic naterial upon the mold bottoms in said molds, Warp and Woof material supply means to said molds, means for elfecting embedding of the Warp and Woof in the plastic material, and means for simultaneously expressing the vva-rp andwoof material and the plastic material as casts from the mold series as a unit.

21. An apparatus for the production of pavement units comprising a traveling open bottom mold series, bottoms for the molds of said series, means for feeding the bottoms into said! molds, means for feeding plastic material upon the bottoms in said molds, a. Warp and Woof material supply means to said molds, and means for supplying ad- 

